The summer after high school graduation, my niece's diary, "The Pain of Living Under Someone Else's Roof," went viral. She came to stay with me for her senior year. Thinking she might feel out of place, I occasionally asked her to help with small chores. When acceptance letters arrived, both she and my daughter got into Stanford. TV stations were practically tripping over each other to interview me, asking for my secrets to raising two geniuses. Just as I was happily sharing my parenting tips, my niece pulled out a diary. The title? The Pain of Living Under Someone Else's Roof. My niece became an internet sensation overnight. I, on the other hand, got doxxed and flamed by an angry mob. "Auntie, my parents sent you money every month for my living expenses. Why did I have to live like a mouse in your house, tiptoeing around? You deserve everything that's happening to you." In the end, thanks to my niece "accidentally" revealing my location, I was pushed into a river by "justice-seeking" netizens and drowned. When I opened my eyes again, I was back to the day my husband's brother dropped my niece off. Heh. "The pain of living under someone else's roof"? In this life, you're going to learn what that phrase really means. 1 "Sis, sorry for the trouble. Since Lily is in the same grade as your Mia, taking care of one isn't much different from taking care of two. I'll Venmo you the living expenses every month. Thanks for looking out for her!" Looking at the WeChat message from my brother-in-law and the notification of a $100 transfer, I finally confirmed I was reborn. I couldn't help but laugh at that $100. They really knew how to count pennies. My daughter, Mia, was starting her senior year. As a freelance writer with a flexible schedule, I rented an apartment near the school to support her. When my brother-in-law and his wife found out, they used the excuse of "working out of town" to dump their daughter, Lily, on me. They promised $100 a month for her living expenses. I knew $100 wouldn't even cover her food, let alone the endless expenses of a teenage girl. But I watched this kid grow up. How could I say no? So, Lily moved in. Worried she might feel like an outsider, I told her that her parents sent money every month. I didn't tell her the amount, just told her to treat this place like her own home. Whatever Mia got, Lily got too. From pens and notebooks to allowance and tutoring classes. I never shortchanged her just because she wasn't mine. At first, when she offered to do chores, I refused. Later, thinking she might want to feel useful, I let her do small, quick tasks. In the end, both girls got into Stanford. I was proud, thinking my efforts paid off. Turns out, I was a clown the whole time. I raised an ingrate. Thinking about how I was cyberbullied to death in my last life, my heart hardened. This time, no more Mr. Nice Guy. 2 "Auntie, what did my dad say?" Lily craned her neck, trying to peek at my phone screen. In my last life, I hid the screen to protect her feelings. I didn't want her to know her parents dumped her on me for a hundred bucks. She took that as me hiding how much money I was "pocketing" from her parents. After the fallout, Mia told me Lily used to call her parents crying about how hard her life was. Her parents would curse me out over the phone, claiming they sent plenty of money and I was just mean. But they never told her the "plenty" was actually $100. They'd tell her to suck it up, that living in someone else's house was just like that, and it would all be over after graduation. Remembering this, I shoved the phone right in her face. "Here. Your parents want you to live here, but they only sent $100. That doesn't even cover rent." Yep, $100 wouldn't cover her share of the rent. This was a prime school district. Rent was easily $3,000 a month. Her share should have been at least $1,000. She lived rent-free for three years without knowing it, and zero gratitude to show for it. I sighed dramatically. "Rent here is crazy expensive, like three grand a month. I don't know what your parents are thinking. A hundred bucks won't even feed you." Being a teenager, she blushed hard. "Auntie, I... I don't eat much." Mia tugged at my sleeve, signaling I might be too harsh. I patted Mia's hand and turned back to Lily. "Look, I'm your aunt. I won't charge you rent. You eat what we eat. But don't expect anything extra." "I understand, Auntie." Seeing her head hang low, I almost felt bad. But that "pitiful" act fooled me in my last life. Grades don't equal character. Getting into a top university doesn't change a rotten core. 3 School started, and soon came the first instance of me being a doormat in my past life. I still can't fathom how parents can just... not pay tuition. Did they really expect someone else to raise their kid entirely? Last time, I paid Mia's tuition online. I had no idea Lily's wasn't paid. Not until her homeroom teacher called me to the school. My brother-in-law had put my contact info down as the parent. I rushed over and saw Lily standing in the office, head down, looking like a criminal. My heart broke for her. It was her parents' fault, but she was the one suffering. I paid her tuition immediately and sent her back to class. "Auntie, why didn't Mia's teacher call you?" Lily asked later. Looking at her sad face, I couldn't bring myself to say, "Because I paid Mia's tuition ages ago. Your parents just don't care." Not wanting her to hate her parents, I swallowed my anger and lied. "My bad, Lily. I paid Mia's early, but your dad only sent the money yesterday. With the start of school chaos, I totally forgot." And what did she write in her diary? My parents sent the money ages ago, but Auntie refused to pay my tuition. She waited until the teacher humiliated me in front of the whole class before reluctantly paying. This small incident became a scar that lasted all senior year. This time, when the phone rang, I let it go to voicemail once. Then it rang again. I picked up. "Hello, is this Lily's parent?" "What's wrong?" "We need you to come to the school regarding a small issue." "Understood." I knew I had to go, but I wasn't rushing. I took my time getting ready. Then I stopped by a bakery to buy Mia's favorite strawberry shortcake and grabbed myself a boba tea. Senior year is stressful; sweets help. In my last life, supporting two kids meant cutting corners. I rarely bought treats. But this time? I'm not spending a dime on Lily. No need to scrimp on my own kid. 4 I strolled into the teacher's office an hour and a half later. Lily and the teacher both looked up. I placed my shopping bags on a side table and walked over. "Sorry I'm late. What's the issue?" The teacher was clearly annoyed, despite trying to be polite. "Lily's guardian, school has officially started, but we haven't received her tuition. Did you forget because of work?" "Huh?" I covered my mouth in mock surprise. My gasp drew the attention of other teachers in the office. "Lily hasn't paid tuition?" "That's correct. This isn't good for the school or the student." "Oh wow, teacher, I had no idea. Her parents dropped her off at my door and dipped to another city. They gave me $100 for living expenses and that's it. I didn't know about the tuition. By the way, I'm not her parent, I'm her aunt. My daughter Mia is in Class 1." This school tracked students by grades. Mia, being top 10 in the city, was naturally in Class 1. Lily was decent, in Class 5, but not top tier. In my last life, I busted my hump to get her grades up, even making Mia tutor her. She eventually made it to Class 1. Hearing I was just an aunt and my kid was in the honors class, the teacher's tone softened instantly. "I see. Her contact info listed you, so naturally, we called." "Okay, teacher. I'll call her parents right now." I pulled out my phone. Lily tugged my sleeve. "Auntie, didn't my parents send you the money?" "What are you talking about, child? You saw the chat yesterday. They sent $100. That won't even buy groceries, let alone tuition." The stares from the teachers and passing students were burning holes in her. Lily turned bright red. "Can't you just pay it for me? My parents will pay you back." "Lily, are you crazy? Tuition is $2,000 for the year. I just paid Mia's, plus rent and utilities. Rent alone is $6,000 a year here. I'm tapped out. I literally only have the $100 your parents sent. Should I give that to the teacher?" The teacher realized what was happening. She adjusted her glasses. "Maybe you should call her parents." "On it." I shook off Lily's hand, dialed my brother-in-law, and put it on speaker. "Hey, Sis." "Bro, did you guys forget to pay Lily's tuition?" "Huh? Sis, isn't Lily living with you now?" I wanted to reach through the phone and slap him. "Yeah, she's living here. You dropped her off without a word. I didn't ask for rent or utilities, but you sent $100 for a month. What is she supposed to eat? Air? And now you forgot tuition? I'm in the teacher's office. Explain yourself." He didn't expect me to air his dirty laundry in public. "Uh, hello teacher. We're out of town for work. We left everything to her aunt..." I cut him off. "Bro, even though she's not mine, I care about her. But I just dropped five grand on Mia's tuition and rent. I'm broke. If you guys don't have it, maybe ask other relatives?" The teacher chimed in, serious. "Sir, per school policy, if tuition isn't paid, Lily will have to study at home until it is." "Fine, fine! I'll send it to her aunt right now. Teacher, put Lily on." Lily took the phone with shaking hands. "Dad..." "You useless girl! Always costing me money! You better get into a good college or you're dead to me!" He hung up. Once the transfer hit, I paid the teacher immediately.
? Continue the story here ?? ? Download the "MotoNovel" app ? search for "386893", and watch the full series ✨! #MotoNovel